Training requirements for Volunteers

[HVFD32]

What do you feel are the training requirements for volunteer firefighter's in your state? Here in Maine we have no real certification, however most in our department are Firefighter one!
Let me know what you think?

Perry

[firelieut14]

I believe that the state of NJ requires all volunteers to have a minimum of FFI within a certain period (6 months, year, end of probation, etc...) Some departments in South Jersey are starting to send a lot of their guys through FFI, FFII, Hazmat Ops, and even Confined Space Ops/Rescue at a minimum...

[McpFF]

That is true that NJ requires FFI, but it also requires HAZMAT OPS, Confined Space Awareness if you have any potential confined spaces in your response area, ICS 100 along other little things like fit test, right to know, Lt's & Capt's need min. ICS 200, Chiefs 300.
IMHO, All FF's should be trained to at least FF I before putting on an airpack. This releases some liability from the dept. if something were to happen among other things. Your state Fire Marshall does not have any guidelines for vol. FD's? Turn to OSHA and NFPA guidelines also for help.

[benford1]

In North Carolina, the State requires each member have a minimum of 36 hours of TRAINING each year. They do not require any certification, however many get Firefighter II certification. This rule applies to both career and Volunteer firefighters. If a member does not maintain 36 hours each year, they are not eligible for any benefits such as the State or Federal Death Benefit and are subject to dismissal from their respective department.

In our department, I require the 36 hours of training. If they do not reach that each fiscal year, they are placed on 90 days probation. If they do not get 1/4 of the hours for the year (9 hours) in that 90 days, they are subject to dismisal from the department.



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*****The opinions expressed are mine and do not necessarily reflect those of my department********

[daysleeper47]

What about Ohio? Anybody know?

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Joe
Daysleeper47
"When the bell goes ding-ding, its time to get on the woo-woo."
"Dusting desire - starting to learn. Walking through fire with out a burn..."

[SRVFD2]

In KY you must have 150 hours (92 required, the rest in optional areas) to be certified, and then 20 hours a year to retain certification. Required hours include 12 in drivers training, 12 in haz mat, 8 in pumps, and 2-5 in a variety of other topics.

Can't tell you for sure about Ohio - but we had an instructor from there once who was sure impressed with our system. Ohio obviously doesn't need many.


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God is our Fire Chief;
Jesus is our Incident Commander.

[benford1]

Another note on NC.......

When a member achieves Firefighter II certification, they must have 150 hours in a 5 year period in the NFPA 1001 topics to maintain that certification. They still have to have 36 hours each year for the state, so 6 hours can be anything they want. Also, only 12 of the 36 mandatory hours can be medical training.

[WTFDFF10]

daysleeper47,

Ohio requires Volunteers to have 36 hours of instruction and pass a written test. It was formerly known as "Firefighter 1-A" but was changed in September to "Volunteer Firefighter."

My Department augments that with lots of hands-on instruction during our weekly drills and a Training Captain for each probie.

[HVFD32]

Glad to hear from all of you. I find it intresting to see that other states don't require a certification of some sort. Our job is a risky one, and I feel we need to be trained in doing that job. We are in the process of trying to lower the iso rating in our town, and training (record keeping) plays a big part in that. The iso requires 24 hours per member per month. Just for your knowledge! LOt of time for a volunteer to put on, but time well spent I think!

[SFDE12]

Not sure of the law in CT, but my department requires Firefighter I in your first year, as well as HAz-Mat Opps. being strongly encouraged in the first year. It is required to ride the rigs.

[xenophon13]

To be on a vol. dept here you don't have to really have any training, however you are not allowed to participate in interior structural operations until you have been qualified as an OSHA firefighter. If you lack the training they will usually put you on some other no fire related duty such as gathering info. from home owners or doing crowd control at the fire scene. I am sure there is probably more but I am unable to think of it at the moment.

[LisbonTrainingOfficr]

In Lisbon we require our new members to be FF1 within three years. Most do it with in a year. This I believe to be a good requirement. It protects them and the department.

[james35]

In Oregon, and this county, We require Basic Firefighter and First Responder Cert before you can respond to calls.

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[fire69dawg]

Ohio does require a 36 hour course you must attend to be certified, but to me is this enough. I too am surprised that some areas do not require certifications to fight fires. I went through a 240 hour course when I got on the department, i was never through a 36 course. Some of the things that I hear about the 36 hour course is that it is not nearly enough. Just gives them a certification to be killed.

[Tindog18]

NY requires a minimum of firefighting essentials, the exact hours I don't really remember but it was a week night for at least 4 hours for almost 3 1/2- 4 months. Thats does't make you a interior guy but a fireman. They can be your outside guy pulling a line off the rig or repacking equipment. To be interior by our departmant standards you have to train in interior firefighting evelutions. Attend classes/trainings about firefighter survival and some rescue ops. Fire behavior arson awareness to name a few. The only suggestion is to not limit yourself on the amout of trainings you can attend, or talk indepth with other firefighters(firehouse forums!!).